Transportable Building Sliding Strip Friction Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transportable buildings face challenges in assembly efficiency, limited height, sealing issues, and high frictional forces during expansion, which hinder easy and tool-free assembly and deployment.

Innovation Solution

The use of slide strips, particularly Teflon strips, between frame and floor elements reduces friction, allowing for manual assembly and easy deployment of foldable, pivotable, and displaceable elements, enabling a two-story structure with minimal effort and without the need for cranes or heavy machinery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If floor profile elements are inserted into frame profile elements for transport, then the building can be transported in a compact state, but high frictional forces arise when pulling out elements for assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport volumeVSAvoidfrictional force
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

A sliding strip is introduced as an intermediary element between the floor profile elements and frame profile elements. The sliding strip is attached to the inner surface of the frame profile element and contacts the outer surface of the floor profile element during insertion and withdrawal operations. This intermediary sliding strip reduces the frictional force between the metal profile elements, enabling easy manual assembly and disassembly without requiring excessive force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the building is assembled manually without tools, then assembly effort is reduced, but assembly precision and stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly effortVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding strip serves as a mediator that enables manual assembly while maintaining precision. By reducing friction between the profile elements, the sliding strip allows manual insertion and withdrawal operations to proceed smoothly without tool assistance, yet the guided interaction between the sliding strip and profile elements ensures proper alignment and positioning, thereby maintaining assembly precision without requiring powered tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of stationary object

If the building structure is extended to two stories, then living space increases, but the weight and complexity of the construction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuilding volumeVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The building is divided into modular floor profile elements and frame profile elements that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. Each floor unit includes integrated sliding strips and connection elements that allow the floors to be inserted into the frame structure in a standardized manner. This segmentation enables the construction of multi-story buildings by simply repeating the modular floor units, thereby increasing building volume without proportionally increasing construction complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Volume of moving object

If separately transported uprights and lattice girders are used, then the transport unit can be compact, but assembly requires cranes and heavy machinery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport unit volumeVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The frame profile elements and floor profile elements are merged into a single integrated transport unit that maintains compactness during transport. The sliding strips are pre-installed on the frame profile elements within the transport unit, creating a self-contained assembly where the floor elements can be directly inserted into the frame elements during assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate transport of uprights and lattice girders, and the pre-installed sliding strips enable easy manual assembly without requiring cranes or heavy machinery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates quick, tool-free assembly and enhanced wind-tightness, reducing the effort required for deployment and allowing for a two-story structure within a single transport unit, improving geometric integrity and operational readiness.

Implementation Method 1

A sliding strip (12) is arranged or formed at least on an underside of at least some, preferably all, floor profile elements (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP4227470A1Transportable building
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 MICHAEL HAFENEDER - ADÄQUAT-HAUS
  • EP4227470A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4227470A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4227470A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a transportable building comprising at least one wall element (1), at least one floor element (13) and at least one roof element (2) which are joined to form a unit, wherein the transportable building is configured to be assembled from a transport state in which the elements (1, 13, 2) are folded and/or pushed together and/or stacked and/or folded together into an operating state, wherein the transportable building comprises a transport unit (100) which has one or more frame profile elements (90) or is formed from one or more frame profile elements (90), wherein the transport unit contains all wall elements (1), floor elements (13) and ceiling elements (2).In order to enable the assembly of the transportable building to be carried out without great effort, it is provided that the transport unit (100) has a number, preferably four or more, floor profile elements (3) which are arranged to slide on the transport unit (100) and which are provided such that they are received inside the transport unit (100) in the transport state and project outwards from the transport unit in the operating state, that the floor profile elements (3) are preferably made of metal and that a sliding strip (12), in particular made of Teflon material, is arranged or formed on at least one underside of at least some, preferably all, floor profile elements (3).